Composer And Performer

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Comment by Carla J. Patterson on November 12, 2009 at 3:09pm

Oh, silly me - forgot to add pencil and paper to the tools I use to compose music! I actually do know how to do that but I have to admit I don't do it often anymore. Mostly composing into a computer using midi and/or microphones. Lots of leeway to play that way and I am an improviser at heart so it suits me. Knowing how to compose music on paper is an invaluable training in how to think parts and totalities through, though. I wish every musician on earth had that foundation - it's a great discipline to jump off from and/or return to. My time studying theory and composition opened my eyes to a whole other world of complexity and helped me understand the power of simplicity. It was a joy to have the time to focus only on becoming a better musician.

Comment by Carla J. Patterson on November 12, 2009 at 3:04pm

I compose with whatever I have in front of me, or with me - since I always have my voice with me, I have always composed with that. It helps that I can do most things with my voice that I want to do. Naturally had a large range and after years of performance and vocal training, I was able to hone it into something workable.

The other instruments I've composed on directly are guitar, piano/keyboards, erhu (chinese 2-stringed violin), conga drums, recorders back in my youth, and, of course, my trusty and ever-changing Mac.

At the moment, I am having a lot of fun with the Omnisphere virtual instrument and I'm waiting (impatiently) for my copy of East West Choirs with wordbuilder since I love to compose for voices. Wordbuilder lets you shape the virtual mouths of the singers so that they sing what you want them to. What power!

I'd love to work with more human beings in person but. at the moment, that isn't possible so I'm doing a lot of collaborating with people online and/or with virtual instruments and people. Such is life in the 21st century. :)

Venues are an interesting subject - sometimes the worst aspect of any performance. Often I just perform ad hoc in public spaces where there aren't too many strictures. One of my favorites is the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco where the acoustics are amazing because of the covered walkways. Usually people welcome the entertainment and sometimes people will start performing with me.

There is a lovely chapel in Berkeley where I've performed mainly classical music and arias - not outrageously expensive to rent and some of the best acoustics I've ever heard. I never lost money on the deal and often made a profit.

When I worked at UC Berkeley, I had access to the music department's lunch time concert space and that wasn't bad. You get a nice turnout usually as well.

I have mainly performed my own compositions but occasionally write something for someone else to perform. I have great memories of composing music for the other women I played with for a couple of years in Ovary Action (part of Composer's Cafeteria). Everyone was highly trained, very talented, and most were working professionally in orchestras and choirs around the Bay Area. What a blessing to have musicians of that calibre playing one's music! I wish I'd been more mature in my composing skills then. :)

Comment by johnwgoss on March 3, 2009 at 4:29pm

flutist, oboist, church musician, bell choir director, public school music educator (though no longer a band director), composer

Comment by Salvatore Di Biase on February 14, 2009 at 6:16pm

I am glad to be here ,.... I am a composer of music ...
I hope to share ideas and projects on today music.
I look forward to getting to know you!...
regards,

Salvatore

Comment by paul bailey on December 23, 2008 at 7:13pm

i'm a musician trapped in a trombonists body

Comment by Steve Moshier on December 23, 2008 at 4:12pm

Well, Jeff it looks like the group you form will have two keyboards!

Comment by George Wheeler on December 23, 2008 at 11:41am

Even-though I perform with the saxophone, and I sketch on the piano, I still consider my main instrument to be Macintosh.

Comment by Jeff Harrington on December 23, 2008 at 8:40am

Piano!

Comment by Steve Moshier on December 23, 2008 at 2:02am

Also, besides your instrument, there's the keyboard. (Remember Miles, late in his career was playing the organ - long notes without technique)

Comment by Steve Moshier on December 23, 2008 at 1:57am

Jeff, what's your instrument? I'd guess your expectations are fucking high! Remember, no one knows what the notes are.

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